In this quick tutorial I show you my girly spin on the popular dragon design. No longer are dragons just for boys! Girls can have fun with this design too! It’s also parent friendly and super fast when using an Arty Brush Cake and the ‘Flower Brush’. The ‘flower brush’ is our Silly Farm Signature Large Point brush, and it will help you create the fastest, easiest flowers ever!
I used the following products in this face painting tutorial.
The month of September brings a new Spotlight Artist, Dutch Bihary! Dutch will be answering a few questions of ours and is in the middle of getting ready for his FABAtv debut with his free LIVE class next week on September 13th, starting at 8:00 pm EST. 
Let’s get to the interview now; Tell us a little about yourself Dutch, where are you from?
I was born and raised and still live in Washington state. From as early as junior high I liked the idea of a career being a teacher. I have always been naturally artistic but found it hard to make a career with my abilities early on. I did have a chance to refine my skills right out of high school from a year I spent illustrating comic books.
Are you an artist full time or do you have another job?
I’m a full time face and body artist and I also do special effects make up for video and films. Currently I’m also the artistic director for a multi-attraction haunt.
What type of face and body art do you specialize in?
I specialize in illustrative cheek and mural style body art with brush and sponge, as well as 3d transformations.
How did you get your start in face & body art?
I painted my first face in October of 2005 and started our business the following year. My wife volunteered me to fill in temporarily for a face painter that quit last minute at a local pumpkin patch. I was hooked after the first day.
What’s the most enjoyable part of what you do?
The most enjoyable part of what I do is free creating requests out of my head. No display, just an off the wall idea and a spark of inspiration.
Outside of art, what do you do for fun?
When not working, I enjoy exercising, watching movies, comic books, and cooking. I also enjoy vacation time with my wife and kids, and riding my motorcycle I also love sailing, snowboarding, and camping.
Do you have any pet peeves?
My pet peeves are “oh, I don’t care, just paint anything” followed by “oh, that’s not exactly what I expected”.
Do you attend any conventions, like the FABAIC?
I regularly attend FPBA Vegas as well as living canvas. I’m looking forward to FABAIC in 2013.
Where do you see yourself in a couple years?
I hope to make a long happy career teaching workshops, painting faces and bodies, along with doing make up and special effects for film.
What would you like to do more of, art or otherwise?
I do enjoy and would like to have more involvement with the haunt industry in the future.
What do you think of FABAtv?
FABA tv is a fantastic tool for those who need their instructions reiterated til they get it! Most people don’t understand how to implement new techniques and skill sets until they have practiced them to a point where they are comfortable integrating them into their personal bag of tricks. FABA tv is a way to do this in the comfort of your own home without the stress of performing!
You can visit his website at www.contoursfx.com, or contact him by email at online@contoursfx.com.
Find him on FaceBook at facebook.com/likecontoursfx
Tweet to him on Twitter at twitter.com/ContoursFX
There’s three days left in Shark week and we’ve put together these fan-submitted, shark inspired face paintings for your visual pleasure.
Whether you’re a fan of these magnificent ocean predators or not, these face painting designs are something everyone can enjoy without getting bit.
Hope everyone enjoyed these pieces! If you would like to write or be featured on the Faba Blog, contact us!
I am fortunate to have gigs coming in from all angles. I work with several agents in the south Florida area and they bring me great work. The only downside to it, is that every agency requires a little something different. One agency emails me a gig sheet with directions and more event info than i’ll ever need. While other agencies send me on blind parties and I hold my breathe until the event ends.
About 5 years ago, an agent booked me and it seemed business as usual. Two days prior to the party, I came down with strep throat. Up to that point I had never missed a gig. I pride myself on doing a great job and never letting anyone down, so knowing I had to give my job away was difficult. I called my BFF to cover for me. I called the agency and spoke the the assistant planner and she made the switch. The day of the event I get a call from the birthday mom livid with me. She was upset because the agency had sent her my picture with her contract and she wanted to know why I didn’t show up and why they sent a replacement without notifying her.
I did my best to keep cool and not be reactive, but I didn’t know what shocked me more; The fact the lady had my picture, or the fact that she called to scream at me about it. Long story short, I calmed the lady down, explained my strep throat and told her I would find out from the agency why she wasn’t notified.
The next day I called the agent and told them the story. They told me that they email every client the picture of the entertainer coming to their event so there are no surprises. The owner of the agency told me that because she was sending performers into the homes of high end clients, she wanted the customer to feel safe prior to the event. Her idea made sense to me, surely I’d be more relaxed if I knew that the painter I hired for my kids birthday party wouldn’t show up covered in tattoos and piercings.
The downside to sending a picture in advance is that pictures speak a thousand words. If you send a picture ahead of time and the clients doesn’t like your look it can cost you the job. It is still very common to judge a book by its cover. So if you send a picture of yourself, they will base your talent on your appearance. And you have to be willing to defend your look. The other problem with sending a picture is that you can not change artists at the last minute because the party parents know what you look like. The mom that screamed at me, felt I was trying to scam her. I explained that my BFF was amazing and just as good, and luckily the woman agreed to let her stay. In the end it worked out and it opened my mind.
Sending a picture ahead of time is good customer service. If you have a website with your profile picture or about us page, send the link to your customers. It will allow them to put a face with a name and set their minds at ease. Playing guess who and what will show up at the door is not a fun game. Preparing my customers means happy customers, and I’m all about that.
If you are being booked from an advert or referral and the client has never seen you, giving them a glimpse of what they will get is not only helpful, it can mean building a loyal customer.
If you are going to send a picture, make sure it is event appropriate and that it conveys a professional, accurate portrayal of you. Planning makes perfect and picture perfect can be your way to get noticed!
Happy painting! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! 
Heather is the CEO of Silly Farm Supplies, a face and body art supplies company located in Davie, Florida.